…Trains 309 staff on capacity building
From Atiku Sarki, Abuja
In an effort to prevent anticompetitive practices, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC)is currently monitoring the activities of a major tobacco company for compliance with international conventions and the National Tobacco Control Act.
The Acting Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Adamu Abdullahi disclosed this on Tuesday while briefing newsmen on the achievements carried out by the Commission in the last seven months when he became an Acting Executive Vice Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer of the Commission.
He said the Commission has launched a multifaceted campaign to combat underage tobacco use and protect vulnerable populations.
According to him, the key initiatives in this respect include the “Don’t Burn Their Future” advocacy programme, the “Faith and Fortune” television series, and a retail shop campaign across ten states.
Dr. Abdullahi also said that in its determination to identify knowledge and skill gaps toward enhancing the performance of its staff who are key stakeholders in the implementation of the government’s “Renewed Hope Agenda”, the Commission has sustained its general training as well as a series of fit-for-purpose training programmes that are aimed at meeting specific needs of professionals in the operation Departments.
Among the training programmes recently implemented by the Commission he said include the General Capacity Building on Administrative Processes and Procedures held at the Public Service Institute of Nigeria, Abuja, with virtually all the 309 staff of the Commission as beneficiaries; Workshop on Digital Platforms and Competition Policy for 30 officers; JICA-sponsored Training on Business Competition Law; Fact Checking Course; and Strategic Communication and Media Management Course for 30 officers which he said is currently on-going in Abuja
The Acting FCCPC Boss also said that following a recent on-the-spot assessment tour of the Zonal and State Offices, the Commission has initiated measures aimed at restructuring the outstations to make them more efficient and bring the services of the Commission to the doorsteps of Nigerians even at the grassroots.
He said this is evident in the recent redeployment of certain categories of officers to strengthen the Outstations, improved supply of office equipment to the outstations and the replication of key headquarters activities at the zonal and state offices.
The Commission has also demonstrated commitment to regular promotion of staff as and when due, provision of a conducive work environment, as well as pursuit of other staff welfare matters such as healthcare and insurance, all of which he said are targeted at boosting staff morale for enhanced performance.
Dr. Adamu while explaining further the achievements recorded by the Commission in the last seven months said “The FCCPC is sustaining its culture of prompt response to and implementation of emerging government policies, such as the new provisions in the Public Service Rules, and Extant Service-wide Circulars, among others, to keep the Commission constantly in tandem with and abreast of developments in the larger Public Service.
He said: “In compliance with the cost-cutting drive of the Federal Government, the Commission recently introduced network printing, an alternative power source leveraging solar panels, among other measures aimed at reducing the cost of governance.
“To ensure that the government gets value for expenditure on personnel emoluments, the Commission reintroduced the Employee Clocking System. It is intended to enhance the efficient management of staff attendance records, to enforce strict compliance with Government policy on official working hours
“The Commission has also initiated measures to enhance access control in and around the FCCPC premises, ensuring adequate protection of lives and property. The access control measures include security checks as a precondition for granting visitors and staff members access to the Commission’s premises.
“Conclusion As you can see from the foregoing, the Commission has been working tirelessly to promote competition and protect consumers to create a vibrant economy that benefits both businesses and Nigerians.
“Gentlemen of the press, on behalf of the management and staff of the FCCPC, I must at this point extend our deepest gratitude to you for your unwavering support throughout the first half of 2024.
“Your dedication to disseminating information about our activities has been instrumental in raising public awareness about consumer rights and promoting fair market practices in Nigeria. Through your insightful reporting, you have empowered consumers and enabled the FCCPC to achieve significant milestones in protecting Nigerians from exploitation. We look forward to continuing this productive partnership in the months ahead,” he stated.
